Cisticola

Cisticola
Cisticolas (pronounced sis-TIC-olas) are a genus of very small insectivorous birds formerly classified in the Old World warbler family Sylviidae, but now usually considered to be in the separate family Cisticolidae, along with other southern warbler genera. They are believed to be quite closely related to the swallows and martins, the bulbuls and the white-eyes. The genus contains about 50 species, of which only two are not found in Africa: one in Madagascar and the other from Asia to Australasia. They are also sometimes called fantail-warblers due to their habit of conspicuously flicking their tails, or tailor-birds because of their nests.
The genus was erected by the German naturalist Johann Jakob Kaup in 1829. The name Cisticola is from Ancient Greek kisthos, "rock-rose", and Latin colere, "to dwell".
Range and habitat
Cisticolas are widespread through the Old World's tropical and sub-tropical regions. Africa, which is home to almost all species, is the most likely ancestral home of the group. Cisticolas are usually non-migratory with most species attached to and often distinguishable by their habitats.
A variety of open habitats are occupied. These include wetlands, moist or drier grasslands, open or rocky mountain slopes, and human-modified habitats such as road verges, cultivation, weedy areas or pasture. The species preferring wetlands can be found at the edges of mangrove, or in papyrus, common reed, or typha swamps. Cisticolas are generally quite common within what remains of their preferred habitats.
The zitting cisticola (or fan-tailed warbler) is widespread throughout the tropics and even breeds in southern Europe. It has occurred on a few occasions as a vagrant to England.
Description
Because of their small size (about 10 cm) and brown plumage, they are more easily heard than seen. The similar plumage of many species can make them hard to identify, particularly in winter when they seldom emerge from their grasses. Many African species, in particular, are difficult to distinguish other than by their calls. Thirteen species are named for their calls, from "singing" and "chirping" to "bubbling" and "siffling".
Behaviour
Male cisticolas are polygamous. The female builds a discreet nest deep in the grasses, often binding living leaves into the soft fabric of felted plant down, cobweb, and grass: a cup shape for the zitting cisticola with a canopy of tied-together leaves or grasses overhead for camouflage, a full dome for the golden-headed cisticola. The average clutch is about 4 eggs, which take about 2 weeks to hatch. The parasitic weaver is a specialist parasite of cisticolas and prinias.
In summer, male cisticolas of smaller species make spectacular display flights while larger species perch in prominent places to sing lustily. Despite his size and well-camouflaged, brown-streaked plumage, the male golden-headed cisticola of Australia and southern Asia produces a small, brilliant splash of golden-yellow colour in the dappled sunlight of a reed bed.
List of species
The genus contains 53 species:
Red-faced cisticola, Cisticola erythrops
Singing cisticola, Cisticola cantans
Whistling cisticola, Cisticola lateralis
Trilling cisticola, Cisticola woosnami
Chattering cisticola, Cisticola anonymus
Bubbling cisticola, Cisticola bulliens
Hunter's cisticola, Cisticola hunteri
Chubb's cisticola, Cisticola chubbi
Kilombero cisticola, Cisticola bakerorum
Black-lored cisticola, Cisticola nigriloris
Lazy cisticola, Cisticola aberrans
Rock-loving cisticola, Cisticola emini
Rattling cisticola, Cisticola chiniana
Boran cisticola, Cisticola bodessa
Churring cisticola, Cisticola njombe
Ashy cisticola, Cisticola cinereolus
Tana River cisticola, Cisticola restrictus
Tinkling cisticola, Cisticola rufilatus
Grey-backed cisticola, Cisticola subruficapilla
Wailing cisticola, Cisticola lais
Lynes's cisticola, Cisticola distinctus (sometimes considered as a subspecies of the wailing cisticola)
Rufous-winged cisticola, Cisticola galactotes
Winding cisticola, Cisticola marginatus
Coastal cisticola, Cisticola haematocephalus
White-tailed cisticola, Cisticola anderseni
Ethiopian cisticola, Cisticola lugubris
Luapula cisticola, Cisticola luapula
Chirping cisticola, Cisticola pipiens
Carruthers's cisticola, Cisticola carruthersi
Levaillant's cisticola, Cisticola tinniens
Stout cisticola, Cisticola robustus
Aberdare cisticola, Cisticola aberdare
Croaking cisticola, Cisticola natalensis
Red-pate cisticola, Cisticola ruficeps
Dorst's cisticola, Cisticola guinea - formerly C. dorsti or included in C. ruficeps
Tiny cisticola, Cisticola nana
Short-winged cisticola, Cisticola brachypterus
Rufous cisticola, Cisticola rufus
Foxy cisticola, Cisticola troglodytes
Neddicky, Cisticola fulvicapilla
Long-tailed cisticola, Cisticola angustacauda
Black-tailed cisticola, Cisticola melanurus
Zitting cisticola, Cisticola juncidis
Socotra cisticola, Cisticola haesitatus
Madagascar cisticola, Cisticola cherina
Desert cisticola, Cisticola aridulus
Cloud cisticola, Cisticola textrix
Black-backed cisticola, Cisticola eximius
Dambo cisticola, Cisticola dambo
Pectoral-patch cisticola, Cisticola brunnescens
Pale-crowned cisticola, Cisticola cinnamomeus
Wing-snapping cisticola, Cisticola ayresii
Golden-headed cisticola, Cisticola exilis
References
Further reading
Nguembock B.; Fjeldsa J.; Tillier A.; Pasquet E. (2007): A phylogeny for the Cisticolidae (Aves: Passeriformes) based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequence data, and a re-interpretation of a unique nest-building specialization. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 42: 272–286.
Ryan, Peter (2006). Family Cisticolidae (Cisticolas and allies). Pp. 378–492 in del Hoyo J., Elliott A. & Christie D.A. (2006) Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 11. Old World Flycatchers to Old World Warblers'' Lynx Edicions, Barcelona
External links
Cisticola videos on the Internet Bird Collection
Cisticolidae
Bird genera